What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($335k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saugus	Ludlow
People
Population	28,773Highest	20,904Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA
	Saugus and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ludlow and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	21.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Saugus and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1964Highest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Saugus and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Ludlow
High school in town	Saugus High	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.